SCRT's Blog

SCRT starts walk-over survey programme

Written by Emma Dyson | 30 April 2012

Volunteers practising walk-over methodology

Over the past couple of weeks volunteers have received training on how to do a walk-over survey. A walk-over survey involves walking an area making observations and collecting information. The information that is gathered from these surveys is very important for SCRT as it will allow us to develop our knowledge of all of the SCRT catchments. This knowledge will help us to develop our long term strategic plans for catchment management and will also help us when we are making applications for project funding.

Thank you to all of those volunteers who have got involved with our walk-over survey programme so far. If you are interested or want to find out more about our walk-over surveys then please get in contact with Emma Dyson, Projects Officer as we will be holding further training.

Remember that whenever you are out in the countryside and you think you have come across an invasive non – native species then please click here to report your sighting. It is important that we know where the invasive non-native species are so that they can be controlled effectively. And don’t forget to ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ your footwear or any other equipment when moving between areas especially if you have been where there are invasive non-native species.

It only takes one...

Written by Bekka Corrie-Close | 30 April 2012

Check Clean Dry logo crassula 2

It only takes one tiny fragment of this plant to reproduce and to rapidly take over a waterbody.

This is New Zealand pigmyweed (also known as Australian swamp stonecrop). It can grow underwater up to 3m deep, as an emergent and terrestrially. It reproduces from very small stem fragments which are easily transferred by humans.

When established, it forms dense mats which can impede drainage causing flooding. It also displaces native aquatic plant species and reduces amenity use of the waterbody.

You can play your role in not spreading this highly invasive plant by making sure that you all Check Clean and Dry your equipment between waterways.

The CFINNS Initiative embraces social networking!

Written by Bekka Corrie-Close | 26 April 2012

CFINNS Logo

The CFINNS Initiative has embraced social media as we join both Twitter and Facebook.

These sites will enable you to join the community of freshwater advocates who aim to prevent the spread and introduction of freshwater invasive non-native species in Cumbria.

Visit our pages at:

http://www.facebook.com/cfinns

twitter.com/#!/cumbriainvasive

Pond dumping - BE PLANT WISE!

Written by Bekka Corrie-Close | 05 April 2012

This afternoon whilst I was walking my dog along the local beck, a trib of the River Bela, I came across a bucket shaped lump of plants sitting in the middle of the beck.

On closer inspection it was a bucket of Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis) that had clearly been dumped from somebodies pond!

Elodea species are listed under Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 with respect to England and Wales. As such, it is an offence to plant or otherwise allow these species to grow in the wild.

Please BE PLANT WISE and dont dump aquatic plants in the wild.

BPW logo

Coppice Fascines

Written by Emma Dyson | 08 March 2012

alt alt

Volunteers of the Coniston and Crake Catchment Partnership have been busy making coppice fascines over the last few months. Coppice fascines are made from coppice brash (in this case hazel and beech) tied tightly together into a bundle with sisal, a natural biodegradable fibre.

Brash is usually burnt but instead these fascines will be providing valuable food and habitat for aquatic invertebrates and fish fry. They can also be used to stabilise eroding banks.

Today volunteers helped us to move the fascines out of the nature reserve and into our storage ready to be used this year in the Coniston and River Crake catchment. Look out for opportunities to join us in putting them into place later this year. In the meantime, we are holding one last day of making fascines this Sunday 11^th March and details can be found on our volunteering page.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us so far on this project!